Nontheist Billboard Goes Up Tuesday!

October 2, 2007

Photo by Jeff Dean

(MADISON, WIS.) The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is the nation's largest association of atheists and agnostics, is unveiling what is believed to be one of the first nontheistic billboards on Tuesday, Oct. 2 in Madison, Wis.

The whimsical full-color 48-foot billboard mimics a stained-glass window and warns, "Beware of Dogma." The only other wording is the Freedom From Religion Foundation's name and its website, ffrf.org.

"We are launching a campaign to place freethought billboards up around the country, wherever an irreverent billboard is needed--which is practically everywhere!" says Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation spokeswoman.

"We don't go to Mass, but we want to reach the masses," adds Dan Barker, Foundation co-president. "We think it is time for the rest of us to use the mass media to counter the ubiquity of religious messages on roadsides everywhere!"

(Madison locals can look for it on the feeder road off the West Beltline next to Culver's Restaurant, facing west.)

The Foundation will also be erecting another billboard next week to greet attendees of its 30th national convention, meeting on Oct. 12-13 in Madison. A smaller billboard on East Johnson Street by Fordem Avenue (passed by nearly everyone coming in from the airport) will carry the "Beware of Dogma" message on one side, while the other side will sport the stained-glass motif and the words "Imagine No Religion."

Note to Madison-area Media: The first-ever nontheist billboard will be erected at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 (rain or shine) on the feeder road by Culvers off of the West Beltline. Annie Laurie and Dan will be there.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Madison, Wis., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational charity, is the nation's largest association of freethinkers (atheists, agnostics), and has been working since 1978 to keep religion and government separate.